Big Fluffy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls.

Big Fluffy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls – the classic cinnamon rolls we all Google at this time of year. Buttery, soft, and fluffy dough swirled with sweet cinnamon sugar made with a mix of brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Each roll is frosted generously with the best-tasting brown butter cream cheese icing that melts into every inch of these soft and fluffy rolls. Yes, they’re melt-in-your-mouth delicious. You just can’t beat classic cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.

Between my cookbooks and the website, I’ve created several cinnamon roll recipes, so I didn’t really think I needed another. But when my little sister, Asher, told me she made cinnamon rolls using another website’s recipe – all because she couldn’t find a simple, classic cinnamon roll on our site, I started to rethink this.

And when my sister-in-law, Lyndsie, said to me, “How about a big, fat, fluffy cinnamon roll”? I was quickly convinced that we NEEDED this recipe.

Soft, fluffy, and swirled with a little too much cinnamon sugar. Then baked and frosted with a creamy, sweet, and dreamy cream cheese Ising. CLASSIC cinnamon rolls, but far better than the can of Pillsbury rolls I grew up eating (and loving because you can’t deny that they are good). I used brown butter and a splash of hazelnut liqueur, because I swear the combination of the two just tastes like Christmas.

After making these countless times this week, I’m pretty excited to share the recipe. And just in time for Christmas Eve. Make these on Tuesday night for breakfast on Christmas morning!

Let me tell you all the details

Ingredients 

• flour
• instant yeast
• brown sugar
• milk
• salted butter
• eggs
• granulated sugar
• cinnamon
• cream cheese
• powdered sugar
• hazelnut liqueur – optional, but I promise it’s a worthy addition
• vanilla extract

Special Tools

For this recipe, I do recommend using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for mixing up the dough. It’s just easiest with a mixer and a dough hook!

You can use a spatula, but it will require more arm work.

Steps

Step 1: make the dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix all the dry ingredients: flour, instant yeast, brown sugar, and salt. Pour over the warm milk and add three large eggs. It’s best if the eggs are at room temperature.

I’ve found that using instant yeast is best for overnight dough recipes. It’s easy to use, and for whatever reason, I think it makes a better cinnamon roll.

Mix the dough with a hook until it forms a smooth ball. Now cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

Step 2: mix the cinnamon sugar

I use brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. The combination of both sugars will provide the best cinnamon swirl.

Step 3: roll the dough out and cut the rolls

Roll the puffy dough out into a big rectangle.

Spread the entire surface of the dough with softened butter. I use salted butter. Then, sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mix.

Now, roll the dough into a log and cut it into 12 rolls. Arrange the rolls in a baking pan. I love using something circular because it reminds me of the cinnamon rolls I grew up with. Mom would always bake her Pillsbury rolls in a round pie plate.

Step 4: bake or let sit overnight

You can bake these right away, or you can put the rolls in the fridge and let them sit overnight.

My mom would make her monkey bread on Christmas Eve every year. She taught me the beauty of having an overnight roll/bread recipe for Christmas morning. No one wants to miss out on any of the fun. So, if you’re making these rolls for Christmas, make the rolls (and icing) on Christmas Eve.

Step 5: the icing

Brown butter whisked in soft cream cheese with hazelnut and vanilla. To me, these are the flavors of Christmas!

Spread the warm rolls with probably too much icing. But hey, it’s Christmas, so just enjoy!

Finally, a classic cinnamon roll for you all. My hope is that this recipe becomes a tradition for many of you. The next time Asher decides to do her own baking, I hope she actually uses my cinnamon roll recipe!

Enjoy our favorite sweet rolls! See you tomorrow for the very last Christmas Cocktail Saturday of 2024!

Looking for other holiday cinnamon roll recipes? Here are a few ideas: 

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing

Easy Fluffy Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls

Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Wreath

Brown Butter Iced Mocha Cinnamon Rolls

Lastly, if you make these Big Fluffy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!